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Deutsch Who this part-time B.A. suits – and what you need to bring
This programme targets qualified therapists who want to formalise and expand their expertise while working. It fits you if you are a licensed physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech and language therapist employed in a clinic or practice and looking to deepen skills in evidence-based practice, research literacy and public health. It is also suitable for internationally trained therapists who have entered the German job market and aim for advanced roles in care coordination, quality management or project leadership in therapeutic and health-oriented settings. The study model is blended and campus-based in Potsdam with approx. 15 on-site days per semester.
Admission requirements
Teaching language is German. You need a suitable higher education entrance qualification and a relevant professional background in therapy. Key points at a glance:
- General university entrance: Abitur (general higher education entrance), subject-restricted higher education entrance, Fachhochschulreife, or subject-restricted Fachhochschulreife.
- Admission without Abitur (vocational route): completion of lower secondary level (Sekundarstufe I) plus a relevant completed vocational training and at least two years of work experience; or a Meister qualification/equivalent advanced vocational award; or a prior higher education degree.
- Professional prerequisites for the part-time track: a state-recognised qualification as Physiotherapeut/in, Ergotherapeut/in or Logopäd/in, at least two years of professional experience, and a current employment contract in the field.
- International applicants: foreign school-leaving certificates and degrees that qualify for higher education in Germany are recognised; equivalency is assessed case by case.
- Language: the programme is taught in German; non-native speakers must provide recognised proof of German sufficient for academic study (the university specifies accepted proofs during application).
- Study place: Potsdam campus; blended format with on-site teaching days and online self-study.
Personal requirements
Studying alongside a therapy job demands excellent self-organisation, realistic time planning and sustained motivation. Plan for around 15 hours of study per week for readings, assignments and exam preparation, plus approximately 15 on-campus days per semester. Your employer’s support for release time on teaching days is advisable. You should be comfortable with scientific literature, statistics basics and clinical decision-making, and able to transfer theory directly into practice in your workplace.
Because teaching, assessments and clinical terminology are in German, you need solid academic German to participate in seminars, understand study materials and write assignments. For those relocating, day-to-day success also depends on living within commuting distance of Potsdam to attend the scheduled on-site blocks. If you can manage your rota responsibly, meet deadlines reliably and communicate well in interprofessional teams, you are well prepared for this blended part-time degree.
What will you study in the Gesundheit und angewandte Therapiewissenschaften at Potsdam University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management?
This programme is taught in German. You need confident academic German to follow lectures, complete assignments and take exams. The Bachelor is offered by a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) and the institution is staatlich anerkannt (state-recognised).
You build a scientific foundation for modern therapy across physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Core content spans four areas: evidence-based practice, research methods, health systems and interprofessional work, plus management and entrepreneurship. Practice-oriented projects connect your academic learning directly with your job or integrated training.
Evidence-based therapy and clinical reasoning: You learn to translate research into practice through modules such as evidence-based practice, clinical decision-making and assessments in therapy. The focus is on choosing and evaluating interventions with measurable outcomes.
Research literacy and scientific work: You train essential academic skills for lifelong learning and quality assurance: scientific writing, statistics and fundamentals of health research. This enables you to read, critique and apply studies in daily practice and to contribute to projects in your workplace.
Health communication and interprofessional collaboration: Modules in health communication, public health and interprofessional teamwork prepare you to work across disciplines and settings, from prevention to rehabilitation and palliation.
Health economics, law and entrepreneurship: You address the framework conditions of care through economics and law and entrepreneurship (Existenzgründung). This helps you plan services, manage resources or prepare for self-employment, for example opening a practice.
Practice is a defining feature: the study model links campus learning with your employment or integrated professional training in physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy. A typical semester includes around 15 on-site days. The programme awards 180 ECTS within the Bologna framework.
How does studying in the Gesundheit und angewandte Therapiewissenschaften work?
Teaching language: German throughout
All modules, teaching materials and assessments are in German. You should be able to read academic texts, discuss cases and submit written work in German. This is essential for participation in seminars and for safe, professional communication in healthcare settings.
Study model and where you will study
You study part-time alongside your job in Potsdam. The campus belongs to a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) focused on sport and health. Potsdam, just southwest of Berlin, combines historic palaces and parks with a compact city centre and good public transport. Your second learning site is your workplace or integrated training provider, where you apply what you learn.
Blended learning with structured on-site blocks
The programme follows a blended learning design: on-campus classes are scheduled once a week over three consecutive weeks, followed by two weeks of online self-study. Across a semester, plan for approximately 15 in-person days on campus. You work on study tasks via the online learning platform to prepare and consolidate the classroom sessions.
Learning format, class interaction and support
Seminars, practice-oriented discussions and berufsfeldbezogene (profession-related) projects connect theory and day-to-day therapy. The dual learning locations—university and workplace—ensure continuous feedback between academic content and clinical routines, strengthening your clinical reasoning and communication skills.
Assessments and workload
The workload aligns with 180 ECTS and includes regular study tasks in the online phases and performance checks within the on-site blocks. Profession-related projects allow you to evidence applied competencies that are directly relevant to your current role or training setting.
What does the Gesundheit und angewandte Therapiewissenschaften cost?
Tuition is €350 per month. Over the standard duration of four semesters, this totals €8,400. The university applies an all-inclusive model: the monthly fee covers all regular study and examination services during the standard period, with no additional charges and no fee increase within this time.
Payments are made in monthly instalments, which suits a programme designed to run alongside employment. The university offers guidance on financing options and how to plan your payments; you choose the route that fits your situation. If you relocate to Potsdam for on-site phases, factor in accommodation and living costs for the Berlin–Brandenburg region; rents and expenses vary by district and length of stay for campus blocks.
What careers and recognition does the Gesundheit und angewandte Therapiewissenschaften offer?
The university is state-recognised (staatlich anerkannt). Programmes are accredited by the Wissenschaftsrat and FIBAA. Your Bachelor follows the Bologna framework with ECTS credit points, facilitating academic recognition across the EU and supporting access to relevant Master’s degrees. The institution’s quality management is ISO 9001 certified (DeuZert).
The degree strengthens your profile for advanced practice and coordination roles across prevention, acute and post-acute care, rehabilitation and palliation. Typical paths in Germany and the EU include:
- Therapy roles (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy) with expanded responsibilities in hospitals, clinics and rehabilitation centres
- Practice coordination or team leadership in interdisciplinary health and prevention settings
- Public health and health promotion projects in municipal or NGO contexts
- Self-employment and practice ownership, supported by modules in law, economics and entrepreneurship
- Academic progression into Master’s-level study and participation in applied research or teaching
Bologna compliance and accreditation mean employers and universities can understand the level and scope (180 ECTS) of your qualification. In regulated healthcare fields, professional practice rights continue to depend on your vocational licence; the Bachelor adds academic depth and management, research and public health competencies.
Who is the Gesundheit und angewandte Therapiewissenschaften right for - and who not?
This degree suits working therapists who want to formalise and expand their expertise while staying in practice. It also fits those completing integrated professional training in physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy who wish to add an academic qualification with a strong applied focus.
- You work in physiotherapy, occupational therapy or speech and language therapy and want to advance through evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning.
- You value a blended, part-time format with clear on-campus blocks and online self-study that fits alongside employment.
- You aim for roles involving practice coordination, quality management, prevention or public health projects.
- You are interested in entrepreneurship or preparing for self-employment and practice management.
- You plan to continue into a related Master’s and need a Bologna-compliant, accredited Bachelor.
Some situations make the programme a poor fit. The points below help you avoid a mismatch before applying from abroad.
- You need an English-taught degree; all teaching and assessments here are in German.
- You cannot attend regular on-campus days in Potsdam; around 15 in-person days per semester are integral.
- You are looking for a low- or no-tuition option like many German public universities; this is a tuition-based private programme.
- You seek initial licensing as a therapist solely via university study; professional practice rights in Germany rely on a separate vocational qualification in your therapy field.
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